INDIAN NAVY GEARED UP FOR HADR OPS, DEMO AT VIZAG LIKELY TO BE RESCHEDULED The Indian Navy is closely monitoring the Low-Pressure in the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm ‘Michaung’ and cross the Eastern coast between North Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh around 03 to 04 Dec 23. The Eastern Naval Command has put all personnel and platforms on high State of readiness and is fully prepared to undertake any Humanitarian Relief and Disaster Relief Operations, if the need arises. All Naval Area Commanders have carried out preparatory activities to mitigate the effects of the Cyclone and are in constant liaison with the State Administrations to render assistance as and when required. Considering the safety aspects of the large number of spectators, Naval assets and personnel involved in the Complex Naval Demonstrations planned as part of Navy Day Celebrations, a few Navy Day activities namely Op Demo and the C-in-C''s ''At- Home'' Function at Visakhapatnam may be rescheduled, based on weather conditions. As part of the preparedness, flood relief teams and diving teams have been kept standby to augment the existing resources. Indian Naval ships are on standby with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) bricks, Diving Teams, Medical Personnel to render assistance in the affected areas along the east coast. Naval aircraft have also been kept ready at Naval Air Stations, INS Dega at Visakhapatnam and INS Rajali near Chennai to undertake aerial survey, casualty evacuation, and airdrop of relief material, as required

SWACHHTA PAKHWADA LAUNCHED IN NSTL WITH “SWACHHTA PLEDGE” Swachhta Pakhwada is an initiative envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for making Swachhta “everyone’s business”. All Ministries/ Departments observe Swachhta Pakhwada in allocated fortnight. The allocated fortnight for Defence Research & Development(DRDO) is from 01 Dec to 15 Dec 2023. Visakhapatnam-based premiere naval research naval laboratory of DRDO Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) prepared an action plan to ensure greater participation and more effective outcome of the Pakhwada fortnight by maintaining proper cleanliness in the office premises, with special emphasis on digitizing/ weeding out of records. As part of the Swachhta Pakhwada, each employee in NSTL has taken Swachhta Shapath on the first day, to voluntarily devote 100 hours per year, that is two hours per week for cleanliness and keep the country neat and clean as dreamt by Mahatma Gandhi. They pledged not to litter and don’t allow to litter, to propagate the message of Swachh Bharat Mission in villages and towns. Dr. Abraham Varughese, Outstanding Scientist & Director NSTL along with Dr. HN Das, Scientist ‘G’ & Associate Director and other Scientists, Officers & Staff has taken Swachhta Pledge. Senior scientists and officers discussed the importance of Swachhta among all employees and identified sites for cleanliness at their respective locations. Lt. Col. Rahul Dixit, Division Head (Works & Estate) is the Coordinator for various cleanliness drive activities in NSTL, under Swachh Pakhwada.